COMMENTS:Many residents and
industrial parks. Between E 21st Ave. on the North, 20th Street on the
West and 38th Street on the East. Now the area is quite industrial and one
has to be deligent in searching for remains that date back to the time.
REMAINS: Gary Public School, Cigar Factory

Near Tampa existed the incorporated town of Gary.
Gary was predominantly a celery farming community on the outskirts of Ybor
City, which had its post office established in 1898. The official plat of
"Gary-Town" was recorded in May 1903. Gary included communities of
Gary-Town and Spanish Park. Including a mix of white and Spanish, the
neighborhood boasted cigar factories, a citrus packing house, dairies, a
blacksmith shop, churches, boarding houses and several stores.The City of
Gary was incorporated in October 1915. In 1919 the State dissolved the
City of Gary. In 1923 Gary became a part of Tampa. When Interstate 4 was
built the highway cut through the heart of Gary and many of the original
buildings, homes, and establishments were torn down. The most obvious
relic from Gary is the old Gary Public School, built in 1912, which is now
in a state of “demolition by neglect”. Also, the Seaboard Air Line
Railroad had a wye (a special track construction used to turn trains
backwards in order to back into an area) in Gary which was used to turn
passenger trains around before entering the Tampa Union Station. The wye
has been dismantled since 1984.

UPDATE: The Gary Public School hasbeen demolished.

Submitted by: Mike Woodfin

Front facade of theGary Public School 1912Courtesy Mike
Woodfin

Gary Public SchoolCoutesy Mike Woodfin

Notice that the roof has fallen in and the "Demolition by
Neglect" is well under way.Courtesy Mike Woodfin

Old Cigar Factory that is now a churchCourtesy Mike
Woodfin

Looks to be an old boarding house across the street from
the old cigar factory.Courtesy Mike Woodfin

Gary
Neighborhood SignCourtesy Mike Woodfin

Historical Marker placed in 2007Courtesy Mike Woodfin

UPDATE: The Gary Public School has been torn
downCourtesy Mike Woodfin